U.S. patent number 8,386,175 [Application Number 12/370,407] was granted by the patent office on 2013-02-26 for unmanned aerial system position reporting system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kutta Technologies, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is David H. Barnhard, Douglas V. Limbaugh, Thomas H. Rychener. Invention is credited to David H. Barnhard, Douglas V. Limbaugh, Thomas H. Rychener.
United States Patent |
8,386,175 |
Limbaugh , et al. |
February 26, 2013 |
Unmanned aerial system position reporting system
Abstract
An unmanned aerial system (UAS) position reporting system.
Implementations may include an air traffic control reporting system
(ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of an unmanned
aerial system where the ATC-RS includes an automatic dependent
surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and a traffic information services
broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more telecommunications
modems. The ATC-RS may be adapted to receive position data of the
UAS in an airspace from the GCS and communicate the position of the
UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center (ATC)
or to a military command and control (C2) communication center
through an ADS-B signal or through a TIS-B signal through the ADS-B
and TIS-B transceiver. The ATC-RS may also be adapted to display
the position of the UAS in the airspace on one or more display
screens coupled with the ATC-RS.
Inventors: |
Limbaugh; Douglas V. (Glendale,
AZ), Barnhard; David H. (Lilburn, GA), Rychener; Thomas
H. (Phoenix, AZ) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Limbaugh; Douglas V.
Barnhard; David H.
Rychener; Thomas H. |
Glendale
Lilburn
Phoenix |
AZ
GA
AZ |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kutta Technologies, Inc.
(Phoenix, AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
41118402 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/370,407 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100066604 A1 |
Mar 18, 2010 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61029094 |
Feb 15, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/485; 342/36;
340/961; 701/2; 701/517; 342/463; 701/408; 701/484; 701/14; 701/3;
701/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G
5/0013 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01C
21/00 (20060101); G01S 5/02 (20100101); G01S
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;701/2,3,14,408,468,485,517,120 ;340/961 ;342/36,463 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Hartford, Robin, UAT Puts UAVs on the
Radar,www.mitre.org/news/digest/aviation/06 08/av uat.html, Jun.
2008, p. 1-3. cited by applicant .
Strain, Robert, A Lightweight, Low-Cost ADS-B System for UAS
Applications, Distribution Unlimited Case 07-0634, 2007, p. 1-9.
cited by applicant .
Strain, Robert, Lightweight Beacon System for UAS and Other
Aviation Applications, Mitre Corporation, 2007, p. 1-9. cited by
applicant .
PCT International Search Report for related PCT/US2009/034088,
dated Dec. 14, 2009, 3 pages. cited by applicant .
PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written
Opinion of the International Search Authority for related
PCT/US2009/034088, dated Aug. 17, 2010, 5 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Tarcza; Thomas
Assistant Examiner: Tissot; Adam
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bates; Shannon W. Klemchuk Kubasta
LLP
Government Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
This invention was made with Government support under Contract
FA8750-07-C-0096 awarded by the Air Force. The Government has
certain rights in this invention.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This document claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 61/029,094, entitled "Unmanned
Aerial System Position Reporting Systems and Related Methods" to
Limbaugh, et al., which was filed on Feb. 15, 2008, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An unmanned aerial system position reporting system comprising:
an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled with a
ground control station (GCS) and located on the ground, the GCS in
operational communication with an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for
guidance during flight, the ATC-RS comprising an automatic
dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and a traffic information
services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more
telecommunication modems, the ATC-RS adapted to: gather from the
GCS position data of the UAS in an airspace, wherein the GCS
receives the position data from the UAS or generates the position
data while the UAS moves in the airspace; communicate the position
of the UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center
(ATC) and to a military command and control (C2) communication
center through an ADS-B signal or through a TIS-B signal through
the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver; communicate with a civilian ATC
and with a military C2 communication center through voice and data
using the one or more telecommunication modems; and display the
position of the UAS in the airspace on one or more display screens
coupled with the ATC-RS.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ATC-RS is further adapted to
communicate the position of the UAS in a Standardization Agreement
(STANAG) 4586 signal; a Cursor on Target (CoT) formatted signal; an
ADS-B signal or TIS-B signal; a Standard Terminal Arrival Routes
(STARS) signal, or an All Purpose Structured Eurocontrol
Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX) signal.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ATC-RS further comprises: a
UAS position data collector comprised in the GCS of the UAS and
adapted to receive position data for the UAS in the airspace from
the GCS; a communications input/output (I/O) circuit adapted to
receive position data of the UAS in the airspace through a
universal serial bus (USB) port connection with the GCS and to
route data and voice information within the ATC-RS, the
communications I/O circuit coupled with the ADS-B and TIS-B
transceiver and the one or more telecommunication modems; an air
traffic control (ATC) communication formatting module coupled with
the communications I/O circuit, the ATC communication formatting
module adapted to receive the position data from the UAS position
data collector and to produce a civilian position data stream by
formatting the position data to correspond with a civilian ATC data
format; a command and control (C2) communication formatting module
coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the C2 communication
formatting module adapted to receive the position data from the UAS
position data collector and to produce a military position data
stream by formatting the position data to correspond with a
military C2 communication center data format; and a voice link
module coupled with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to
receive voice information from a microphone and to convert the
voice information to a voice data signal.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the communications input/output
(I/O) circuit further comprises a USB hub, a Wide Area Augmentation
System (WAAS) Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a
Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232) and RS-422 to USB interface, one
or more power converters, an embedded flash drive, and an external
power supply.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more telecommunication
modems are one or more satellite modems.
6. An unmanned aerial system position reporting system comprising:
an unmanned aerial system (UAS) ground control station (GCS)
adapted to receive or generate data identifying the position of a
UAS in an airspace and to allow an operator of the UAS to operate
the UAS; an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled
with the GCS and located on the ground, the ATC-RS adapted to
gather from the GCS the data identifying the position of the UAS
and then transmit the position of the UAS in the airspace to an air
traffic control center (ATC) and to a military command and control
(C2) communication center, the ATC-RS comprising: an automatic
dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information
services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver adapted to transmit the
position of the UAS in the airspace to the ATC as an ADS-B signal
or a TIS-B signal; one or more telecommunication modems adapted to
allow an operator of the UAS to communicate by voice with the ATC;
and one or more display screens coupled with the ATC-RS, the one or
more display screens adapted to display the position of the UAS in
the airspace.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ATC-RS further comprises: a
UAS position data collector comprised in the GCS of the UAS and
adapted to receive position data for the UAS in the airspace from
the GCS; a communications input/output (I/O) circuit adapted to
receive position data of the UAS in the airspace through a
universal serial bus (USB) port connection with the GCS and to
route data and voice information within the ATC-RS, the
communications I/O circuit coupled with the ADS-B and TIS-B
transceiver and the one or more telecommunication modems; an air
traffic control (ATC) communication formatting module coupled with
the communications I/O circuit, the ATC communication formatting
module adapted to receive the position data from the UAS position
data collector and to produce a civilian position data stream by
formatting the position data to correspond with a civilian ATC data
format; a command and control (C2) communication formatting module
coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the C2 communication
formatting module adapted to receive the position data from the UAS
position data collector and to produce a military position data
stream by formatting the position data to correspond with a
military C2 communication center data format; and a voice link
module coupled with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to
receive voice information from a microphone and to convert the
voice information to a voice data signal.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications I/O circuit
further comprises a USB hub, a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a Recommended
Standard-232 (RS-232) and RS-422 to USB interface, one or more
power converters, an embedded flash drive, and an external power
supply.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the ATC-RS is further adapted to
communicate the position of the VAS in a Standardization Agreement
(STANAG) 4586 formatted signal; a Cursor on Target (CoT) formatted
signal; an ADS-B signal or TIS-B signal; a Standard Terminal
Arrival Routes (STARS) formatted signal, or an All Purpose
Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)
formatted signal.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more
telecommunication modems are one or more satellite modems.
11. An air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) on the ground,
the ATC-RS comprising: an unmanned aerial system (UAS) position
data collector, the UAS position data collector adapted to gather
from a ground control station (GCS) position data for the UAS in an
airspace, the GCS in operational communication with the UAS for
guidance during flight; a communications input/output (I/O) circuit
adapted to receive position data from the GCS of the UAS in the
airspace through a universal serial bus (USB) port connection with
the GCS and to route data and voice information within the ATC-RS;
an air traffic control (ATC) communication formatting module
coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the ATC communication
formatting module adapted to receive the position data from the UAS
position data collector and to produce a civilian position data
stream by formatting the position data to correspond with a
civilian ATC data format; a command and control (C2) communication
formatting module coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the
C2 communication formatting module adapted to receive the position
data from the UAS position data collector and to produce a military
position data stream by formatting the position data to correspond
with a military C2 communication center data format; a voice link
module coupled with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to
receive voice information from a microphone and to convert the
voice information to a voice data signal; one or more satellite
modems coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the one or more
satellite modems adapted to transmit the voice data signal through
a voice communication network and to transmit one or more data
signals to a civilian ATC and to a military C2 communication
center; and an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B)
and traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver
coupled with the communications I/O circuit, the ADS-B transceiver
adapted to receive the civilian position data stream and the
military position data stream and to transmit an ADS-B signal or a
TIS-B signal corresponding with the civilian position data stream
and the military position data stream.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the military C2 communication
center data format is in a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586,
Cursor on Target (CoT), Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) or
an All Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information
Exchange (ASTERIX) format.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the communications I/O circuit
further comprises a USB hub, a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a Recommended
Standard-232 (RS-232) and RS-422 to USB interface, one or more
power converters, an embedded flash drive, and an external power
supply.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
Aspects of this document relate generally to control and position
reporting systems for unmanned systems, such as aircraft and
vehicles.
2. Background Art
Unmanned systems, particularly aircraft and ground vehicles,
perform a wide variety of tasks, including mapping, reconnaissance,
range finding, target location, combat, ordinance destruction, and
sample collection. The use of ground or water-based unmanned
vehicles conventionally involves a remote operator guiding the
vehicle while manned vehicles detect the presence of the unmanned
vehicle using position tracking systems and methods (visual, radar,
sonar). Because of the speed and relatively small size of unmanned
aerial systems (UASs) however, the use of visual and/or radar
techniques to detect the presence of the UAS may make it difficult
for pilots of manned aircraft to avoid a collision. To reduce the
risk of collision, many conventional UASs are operated in
"sterilized" airspace which has been previously cleared of all
manned air traffic by air traffic controllers.
SUMMARY
First implementations of unmanned aerial system (UAS) position
reporting systems may include an air traffic control reporting
system (ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of an
unmanned aerial system where the ATC-RS includes an automatic
dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and a traffic information
services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more
telecommunication modems. The ATC-RS may be adapted to receive
position data of the UAS in an airspace from the GCS and
communicate the position of the UAS in the airspace to a civilian
air traffic control center (ATC) or to a military command and
control (C2) communication center through an ADS-B signal or
through a TIS-B signal through the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The
ATC-RS may also be adapted to communicate with a civilian ATC or
with a military C2 communication center through voice and data
using the one or more telecommunication modems. The ATC-RS may be
adapted to display the position of the UAS in the airspace on one
or more display screens coupled with the ATC-RS.
First implementations of UAS position reporting systems may include
one, all, or any of the following:
The ATC-RS may be further adapted to communicate the position of
the UAS in a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586 signal; a
Cursor on Target (CoT) formatted signal; an ADS-B signal or TIS-B
signal; a Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) signal; or an
All Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information
Exchange (ASTERIX) signal.
The ATC-RS may further include a UAS position data collector
included in the GCS of the UAS and adapted to receive position data
for the UAS in the airspace from the GCS and a communications
input/output (I/O) circuit adapted to receive position data of the
UAS in the airspace through a universal serial bus (USB) port
connection with the GCS and to route data and voice information
within the ATC-RS, where the communications I/O circuit is coupled
with the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver and the one or more
telecommunication modems. The ATC-RS may also include an air
traffic control (ATC) communication formatting module coupled with
the communications I/O circuit and adapted to receive the position
data from the UAS position data collector and to produce a civilian
position data stream by formatting the position data to correspond
with a civilian ATC data format. A command and control (C2)
communication formatting module may be included and coupled with
the communications I/O circuit. The C2 communication formatting
module may be adapted to receive the position data from the UAS
position data collector and to produce a military position data
stream by formatting the position data to correspond with a
military C2 communication center data format. A voice link module
may also be included and may be coupled with the communications I/O
circuit and may be adapted to receive voice information from a
microphone and to convert the voice information to a voice data
signal.
The communications input/output (I/O) circuit may further include a
USB hub, a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Global Positioning
System (GPS) receiver, a Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232) and
RS-422 to USB interface, one or more power converters, an embedded
flash drive, and an external power supply.
The one or more telecommunication modems may be one or more
satellite modems.
Second implementations of unmanned aerial system reporting systems
may include an unmanned aerial system (UAS) ground control station
(GCS) adapted to receive or generate data identifying the position
of a UAS in an airspace and to allow an operator of the UAS to
operate the UAS and an air traffic control reporting system
(ATC-RS) coupled with the GCS and adapted to communicate the
position of the UAS in the airspace to an air traffic control
center (ATC) or to a military command and control (C2)
communication center. The ATC-RS may include an automatic dependent
surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information services
broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver adapted to transmit the position of
the UAS in the airspace to the ATC as an ADS-B signal or a TIS-B
signal. The ATC-RS may also include one or more telecommunication
modems adapted to allow an operator of the UAS to communicate by
voice with the ATC and one or more display screens coupled with the
ATC-RS adapted to display the position of the UAS in the
airspace.
Second implementations of a UAS position reporting system may
include one, all, or any of the following:
The ATC-RS may further include a UAS position data collector
included in the GCS of the UAS and adapted to receive position data
for the UAS in the airspace from the GCS. A communications
input/output (I/O) circuit may be included and may be adapted to
receive position data of the UAS in the airspace through a
universal serial bus (USB) port connection with the GCS and the
route data and voice information within the ATC-RS and may be
coupled with the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver and the one or more
telecommunication modems. An air traffic control (ATC)
communication formatting module may be included and may be coupled
with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to receive the
position data from the UAS position data collector and to produce a
civilian position data stream by formatting the position data to
correspond with a civilian ATC data format. A command and control
(C2) communication formatting module may be included and may be
coupled with the communications I/O circuit and may be adapted to
receive the position data from the UAS position data collector and
to produce a military position data stream by formatting the
position data to correspond with a military C2 communication center
data format. A voice link module may also be included that is
coupled with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to receive
voice information from a microphone and to convert the voice
information to a voice data signal.
The communications I/O circuit may further include a USB hub, a
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Global Positioning System
(GPS) receiver, a Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232) and RS-422 to
USB interface, one or more power converters, an embedded flash
drive, and an external power supply.
The ATC-RS may be further adapted to communicate the position of
the UAS in a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586; a Cursor on
Target (CoT) formatted signal; an ADS-B or TIS-B signal; a Standard
Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) signal, or an All Purpose
Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)
formatted signal.
The one or more telecommunication modems may be one or more
satellite modems.
Implementations of an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS)
may include an unmanned aerial system (UAS) position data collector
adapted to receive position data for the UAS in an airspace from a
GCS and a communications input/output (I/O) circuit adapted to
receive position data of the UAS in the airspace through a
universal serial bus (USB) port connection with the GCS and to
route data and voice information within the ATC-RS. An air traffic
control (ATC) communication formatting module may be included and
may be coupled with the communications I/O circuit and adapted to
receive the position data from the UAS position data collector and
to produce a civilian position data stream by formatting the
position data to correspond with a civilian ATC data format. A
command and control (C2) communication formatting module may be
included and may be coupled with the communications I/O circuit and
may be adapted to receive the position data from the UAS position
data collector and to produce a military position data stream by
formatting the position data to correspond with a military C2
communication center data format. A voice link module may be
included and may be coupled with the communications I/O circuit and
may be adapted to receive voice information from a microphone and
to convert the voice information to a voice data signal. One or
more satellite modems may be coupled with the communications I/O
circuit and may be adapted to transmit the voice data signal
through a voice communication network and to transmit one or more
data signals to a civilian ATC or to a military C2 communication
center. An automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and
traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver may be
included and may be coupled with the communications I/O circuit and
may be adapted to receive the civilian position data stream and the
military position data stream and to transmit an ADS-B signal or a
TIS-B signal corresponding with the civilian position data stream
or the military position data stream.
Implementations of an ATC-RS may include one, all, or any of the
following:
The military C2 communication center data format may be in a
Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586; Cursor on Target (CoT);
Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS); or an All Purpose
Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)
format.
The communications I/O circuit may further include a USB hub, a
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Global Positioning System
(GPS) receiver, a Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232) and RS-422 to
USB interface, one or more power converters, an embedded flash
drive, and an external power supply.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be
apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the
DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Implementations will hereinafter be described in conjunction with
the appended drawings, where like designations denote like
elements, and:
FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an implementation of an unmanned aerial
system (UAS) position reporting system;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an implementation of an air
traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS);
FIG. 3 is a top block view of an implementation of a communications
input/output (I/O) circuit;
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an implementation of a
satellite modem.
DESCRIPTION
This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited
to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein.
Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art
consistent with the intended unmanned aerial system (UAS) position
reporting system and/or assembly procedures for a UAS position
reporting system will become apparent for use with particular
implementations from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example,
although particular implementations are disclosed, such
implementations and implementing components may comprise any shape,
size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration,
material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such
UAS position reporting systems and implementing components,
consistent with the intended operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, a flow chart of an implementation of a UAS
position reporting system 2 is illustrated. As illustrated, a UAS 4
may be airborne in a particular airspace 6 and being guided in
flight by an operator through a ground control station (GCS) 8,
which is coupled to UAS position data collector 10. In particular
implementations, the UAS position data collector 10 may be a
separate unit from the GCS 8; in other implementations, the UAS
position data collector 10 may be incorporated into or exist in
computer readable form on computer readable media and be operated
by the GCS as a software program. The UAS position data collector
10 gathers position data that the GCS 8 is receiving from the UAS 4
or generating while the UAS 4 moves within the airspace 6. The UAS
position data collector 10 then acts as a source of the position
data for the rest of the UAS position reporting system 2.
As illustrated, the UAS position data collector 10 is included in
an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) 12. In particular
implementations of UAS position reporting systems 2, the UAS
position data collector 10 may be physically included in the ATC-RS
12; in other implementations, the UAS position data collector 10
may be physically separated from the ATC-RS 12.
As illustrated, the ATC-RS 12 also includes a communications
input/output (I/O) circuit 14 coupled with an air traffic control
(ATC) formatting module 16, a command and control (C2) formatting
module 18, a voice link module 20, one or more telecommunication
modems 22, an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B)
and a traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver
24, and a microphone 32. The communications I/O circuit 14 may
serve in particular implementations to route signals and or power
between all of the various modules and components; in other
implementations, it may route signals between only some of the
modules and an additional communications router module may be
utilized for routing.
The communications I/O circuit 14 receives position data from the
UAS position data collector 10 and routes it to the ATC formatting
module 16 and the C2 formatting module 18. Whether the ATC
formatting module 16 or the C2 formatting module 18, or both, are
utilized during operation of the UAS position reporting system 2
depends upon whether the system will interface with a civilian air
traffic control or military air traffic control system or both. If
the system will operate in a civilian system, the ATC formatting
module 16 formats the position data into a civilian data stream in
a civilian data format. Examples of civilian data formats include
ADS-B, TIS-B, Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS), and All
Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange
(ASTERIX). If the UAS position reporting system 2 is being utilized
in a military environment, the C2 formatting module 18 will format
the position data into a military data stream in a military data
format. Examples of military data formats include, by non-limiting
example, Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586, Cursor on Target
(CoT), and any other military air traffic control data format.
Various forms of operating mode selection may be included in
implementations of UAS position reporting systems 2 to permit
operation in civilian, military, or in both civilian and military
mode. In all data formats and in all system implementations
disclosed in this document, any of a wide variety of radio
transceiver types may be utilized. For example, in military
applications, specialized radio transceiver types other than ADS-B
and TIS-B transceivers may be utilized; in civilian applications,
certain format types may also require the use of a different radio
type than an ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The use of an ADS-B and
TIS-B transceivers in implementations in this document is for the
exemplary purposes of this disclosure.
The formatted data streams then pass to the ADS-B and TIS-B
transceiver 24 for broadcasting as either an ADS-B signal or a
TIS-B signal. In particular implementations, the TIS-B signal may
be created by flipping a single bit in an ADS-B signal to indicate
that the signal is coming from the ground. Relevant teachings
regarding the nature and use of ADS-B and TIS-B transceivers and
radios may be found in the provisional patent application to
Limbaugh, et al., entitled "Unmanned Aerial System Position
Reporting Systems and Related Methods," filed Feb. 15, 2008, the
disclosure of which was previously incorporated herein by
reference.
Because the ADS-B radio system has been designated by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) as a component of the next generation
air traffic control system, present and future aircraft will
contain an ADS-B device capable of receiving signals from the ADS-B
and TIS-B transceiver 24. Because of this, and as illustrated in
FIG. 1, the UAS position reporting system 2 has the ability to
directly inform such aircraft 26 of the position of the UAS 4. In
particular implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ADS-B and
TIS-B transceiver 24 has the ability to transmit ADS-B/TIS-B
signals to an air traffic control center (ATC) or C2 control center
28, thus permitting air traffic control personnel at the center to
be able to view the position of the UAS 4. Because the position of
the UAS 4 is now known by neighboring aircraft 26 and may also be
visible to personnel at the ATC or C2 control center 28, the risk
of collision with the UAS 4 may be reduced. In addition, because
the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver 24 has the ability to receive ADS-B
and TIS-B signals, an operator of the UAS 4 may also be able to
view the position of neighboring aircraft 26 in relation to the
position of the UAS 4 itself on one or more displays 30 coupled to
the ATC-RS 12.
While the position of the UAS 4 may be made visible to personnel at
the ATC 28 itself through the ATC-RS 12, because the personnel at
the ATC 28 cannot maintain direct voice contact with the operator
of the UAS 4, flight regulations may still not permit the UAS 4 to
be flown in the vicinity of neighboring aircraft 26. In particular
implementations of UAS position reporting systems 2, a voice link
module 20 may be included that receives voice information from a
microphone 32 coupled with the communications I/O circuit 14. The
voice link module 20 formats the voice information into a voice
data signal that is then broadcast using one or more
telecommunication modems 22, which may be satellite modems in
particular implementations. Because the one or more
telecommunication modems 22 can be connected to the ATC 28 through
a communication network 34, personnel at the ATC 28 can maintain
voice contact with the operator of the UAS 4 while it is in flight
and issue commands and request status updates. Examples of
communications networks 34 that could be utilized for voice
communication include the public switched telephone network (PSTN),
the internet, a wide area network (WAN), a satellite communication
network, or any other network capable of transmitting voice and
data information. In particular implementations, additional or
duplicate position data for the UAS 4 may be transmitted using the
one or more telecommunication modems 22 to the ATC 28 in any
desired data format, thereby providing both voice and data
transmission capability as well as permitting the ACT 28 to utilize
the position data for a wide variety of purposes, including
displaying the position of the UAS 4.
Any of a wide variety of particular component types may be used to
form particular implementations of UAS position reporting systems
2. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, the ATC
formatting module 16 and C2 formatting module 18 may be implemented
as computer readable instructions on computer readable media
operable by a processor or an embedded controller. The voice link
module 20 may be a transducer and the one or more telecommunication
modems 22 may be an Iridium.RTM. 9522A satellite modem. The
ADS-B/TIS-B transceiver may be a Universal Access Transceiver
Beacon Radio (UBR) designed by MITRE Corporation of McLean, Va.,
USA.
Referring to FIG. 2, a particular implementation of an ATC-RS 36 is
illustrated. As illustrated, the ATC-RS 36 may include a case 38
that houses and protects the various modules and components. The
case 38 may be constructed to comply with a wide variety of
military or other reliability standard specifications, such as, by
non-limiting example, shock, vibration, impact, humidity,
temperature, water resistance, or any other reliability or
performance characteristic. The case 38 may include an opening for
the one or more satellite modem antennas 40 and an interface
opening 42 capable of being closed with lid 44 that contains
various controls and interface types. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a
universal serial bus (USB) port 46 may be included that is used to
connect with a GCS unit. In particular implementations, the design
of the communication I/O circuit allows connection of the ATC-RS 36
to the GCS using only one USB cable at the USB port 46. A main
power switch 48, various indicator lights 50, and a
microphone/headset interface 52 may also be included. As
illustrated, one or more ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver antennas 54
may extend from the case 38. A wide variety of other components,
such as external power supplies, internal power supplies,
batteries, displays, or other components may be included within or
external to the case as part of the ATC-RS 36.
Referring to FIG. 3, an implementation of a communication I/O
circuit 56 is illustrated. As illustrated, the circuit 56 may
include a Recommended Standard (RS) 232 and RS-422 to Universal
Serial Bus (USB) converter, accessible via RS-232/RS-422 connector
58 on the board. In particular implementations, an RS-485 serial
connector interface or RS-432 interface may also be included or may
be used in place of either the RS-232 or RS-422 portions. A USB
port 60 and/or hub may be included as part of the circuit 56. A
flash drive 62 may also be included as part of the circuit 56 and
may be adapted in particular implementations to store flight
position and/or other performance or operating data from the UAS
during flight to act as a UAS "black box," particularly during UAS
test flight situations. A flash memory controller 64 may be
included as part of the circuit 56 along with power input 66, which
is adapted to receive power from an external power supply. A Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver and antenna may be included as
part of the circuit 56 and may be connected via a Bayonet Neill
Concelman (BNC) connector or a Subminiature Version A (SMA)
connector 68. As illustrated in FIG. 3, various other components 70
necessary to allow the circuit to route signals and power through
the circuit and one or more internal batteries 72 for any processor
clocks may also be included in particular implementations.
Referring to FIG. 4, an implementation of a satellite modem 74 is
illustrated. The particular implementation illustrated in FIG. 4 is
a partly disassembled Iridium.RTM. 9255A satellite modem. Because
the Iridium.RTM. satellite network does not support voice and data
communication on a single channel, implementations of UAS position
reporting systems that utilize Iridium.RTM. branded modems require
two satellite modems, one for voice, and one for data. However, any
of a wide variety of other satellite modems, telecommunication
modems, cellular networks, wireless devices, the internet, or other
network devices could also be utilized for voice and/or data
transmission in particular implementations.
The foregoing description has described implementations of ATC-RS
units 12, 36 that are adapted to communicate with a UAS and with an
ATC or C2 control center. The principles disclosed in this
document, however, may be applied to any remotely,
semi-autonomously, or autonomously guided land, surface water,
submersible, or space vehicle where direct position communication
with neighboring manned vehicles and/or an overseeing control
center is desired.
In places where the description above refers to particular
implementations of UAS position reporting systems, it should be
readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations
may be applied to other UAS position reporting systems.
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